The Craziest Bench Clearing Brawls in Sports

In the heat of the moment, sparks begin to fly, tempers begin to run high, fists begin to clench.

And like a ticking time bomb, these athletes, coaches and fans are moments away from tossing those fisticuffs, bumping those chests and tossing those ferocious leg kicks at whoever is willing to engage.

It's a vicious cycle, and certainly an uglier side to sports. But dare we say, fighting is sometimes very necessary. And always entertaining.

18. Terrence Leather vs. Jondan Salvador

As these two ballers battled for position, it was clear madness was moments away.

After a pushing match, Talk and Text Import Terrence Leather is seen chucking the ball at Jondan Salvador, who then has to be separated from his 6'9" counterpart.

But entertainment greatness is finally achieved when James Yap comes from behind and kicks Leather. He is then seen scampering for his life like a young boy caught in the women's locker room. Classic stuff.

15. New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles

After allowing his usual lead-surrendering homerun in 1998 (a three-run shot to center fielder Bernie Williams in the eighth), Armando Benitez had no choice but to plunk first baseman Tino Martinez in retaliation.

While the accuracy of the beanball was remarkable for Benitez, the length of the brawl was something we'd never seen before.

10 minutes of Darryl Strawberry and Graeme Lloyd sucker punches, and both teams being dragged into the dugouts. Epic.

8. Canada vs. USSR

The infamous Punch-up in Piestany occurred during the final game of the 1987 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Czechoslovakia and featured the ejection of both nations (costing Canada a certain medal and a potential gold).

Referees eventually flipped the script and shut off the lights in an attempt to stifle the 20-minute melee.

7. Colorado Avalanche vs. Detroit Red Wings

He may have lost his shirt first, but Chris Osgood got the best of Patrick Roy with a ferocious bullrush.

In retaliation of Claude Lemieux's face-into-the-boards hit on Red Wings center Kris Draper from behind during the '96 Western Conference Finals, the Wings made it clear they were ready for war the following year.